Apparatus for the control of railway-switches



c. H. LAY. APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF RAILWAY SWITCHES.

APPLICATION HLED AUG-19,1919.

Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

H ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. LAY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF RAILWAY-SWITCHES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N 23 1920.

Application filed August 19, 1919. Serial Ito 318,561.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. LAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Control of Railwayswitches of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for the control of railway switches, and particularly to apparatus wherein the switch is controlledby a distantly located manually operable lever. In apparatus of this character, the lever is usually provided with locking means which are controlled by the switch, and the present invention relates specifically to the means for controlling such locking means. 7

I will describe one form ofapparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference character A designates a railway swltch which is operated by a switch operating and locking mechanism C, and which mechanism is in turn controlled by a manually operable lever L through the medium of a polarized relay E. When relay E is energized in normal direction, the mechanism C is actuated to move the switch A to its normal position, whereas when the relay is energized in the reverse direction, the mechanism is actuated to move the switch to its reverse position. This control is indicated diagrammatically by a circuit which passes from one terminal B of av suitable battery, through one polarized contact or the other of relay E. to the other battery terminal 0. When the lever ll is in the position shown, which I will term the normal position, the circuit for relay E is from battery H, through wires 11, 12 and 13, contact 14--14 of a pole-changer lF actuated by lever T1, wires 15 and 16, relay E, wires 17and 18, contact 19----19 0t pole-changer li wires 20, 21. and 22 to battery H. Contacts 14ll4c and 19-19 are closed from the normal position to the normal indication position of lever L, whereas contacts 141t and iii-19 are closed from the reverse position to the reverse indication positlon of lever L. The circuit for relay E when lever L is reversed will be obvious without further explanation.

The movements of the lever L are controlled by indication means comprising a single segment S attached to the lever and having twodogs 7 and 8 which cooperate with a latch 10 -controlled by an electromagnet M. This magnet is controlled by two relays N and R, and by lever-operated contacts N and R Relay R is a polarized relay, usually known as an indication relay, and it in turn is controlled by a polechanger P actuated by the switch A, so that this relay repeats the positions of the switch. The .circuit for this relay is from a battery 23, through pole-changer P, wire 24: winding of relay R, wire 25, and polechanger P to battery 28. The operation of the pole-changer P is such that relay R is energized in normal or reverse direction according as the switch A is in normal or reverse position, and deenergized when the switchis in any intermediate position. This relay is preferably placed on short circuit by a wire 39 when the switch is anywhere between the two extreme positions.

The contact N is arranged to be closed from the normal to the normal indication position of the lever T1, and, consequently,

this may be termed a normal-to-normal-indication contact. Contact R on the other hand, in a reverse-to-reverse-indication contact.

The indication magnet M is further controlled by a relay 5, which relay is controlled by a track relay 3 connected with the track rails adjacent the switch A. Relay 3 constitutes part of a track circuit which includes the switch rails, the track rails adjacent the switch, and a track battery 2. The relay 5 is what is usually termed a detector lock relay.

The circuit for relay 5 is from the terminal of a source of current. through contact 4 of relay 3, wire 6, and winding of relay 5 to the terminal of the same source of current. I

Relay N, which T will term a neutral relay. is provided with a pick-up and a holding circuit. The pick-up circuit is from battery H, through wires 11, 12 and 40, winding of relay N, wires 41 and 31, back point of contact 30 of indication relay R, wires L2 and 22 to battery H. It follows, therefore, that this relay can become energized only when the indication relay R is open. The normal holding circuit for relay N is from battery H, throughwires 11, 12 and 40, winding of relay N, wire 4E1, front contact 32 of relay N, wire 33, normal contact 34-4345, of indication relay R, wire 35, lever-operated contact N and wires 36, 21 and 22 to battery H. The reverse holding circuit for this relay is similar to the normal holding circuit, except that it includes the reverse polarized contact Wit-3 of indication relay R, wire 37, leveroperated contact R and wire 38.

Magnet M is controlled by the same ele' ments as those which are included in the further controlled by the front contact of the indication relay 13;, by a push button- J, and by the detector lock relay 5.

The operation or" the apparatus is as fol lows:

As shown in the drawing, the switch A and the lever L are in normal positions, and the remaining parts of the apparatus are in the positions corresponding to such posi tions of the switch and lever. The lever I} is locked in the normal position by the engagement of latch 10 with dog 7, and, consequently, when it is desired to reverse the switch, the indication magnet M must first be energized. This is accomplished by closing a push button J, whereupon magnet M becomes energized through the following circuit: from battery H, through wires 11. and 26, winding of magnet M, wire 26*,push button J, wire 27, contact 28 of relay 5,

Wire 29, front point of contact 30 of indi cation relay R, wire 31, front contact 32 of relay N, wire 33, normal polarized contact- 3434 of relay Ii, wire 35, contact N and wires 36, 21 and 22 to battery H. It wlll be observed that if the portion of track adjacent the switch A is occupied by a train, magnet M cannot'become energized, because the circuit just traced will be open at contact 28 of relay 5. Assuming that this contact is closed, however, and that the circuit for magnet M is closed at all other points, this magnet raises the latch 10 out of the path of dog 7, so that lever L can be swungin clockwise direction. As soon as the lever passes the normal indication position, magnet M and relay become deenergized, due to the open ng otcontact N so that latch 10 returns to its initial position.

lln order to avoid any possibility of this latch remaining in its elevated position. the segment S is provided with a proyection 9 which forces the latch down as the middle point of the segment passes the latch, unless the latclrhas already dropped. l'iever L then becomes locked in reverse indication position, due to the engagement of dog 8 with the latch 10. This movement of the lever reverses the contacts of the polechanger P, so that relay E becomes ener-' gized in the reverse direction, and this reversal of relay E in turn causes the switch mechanism C to move the switch A to the reverse position. As soon as the switch begins to move, pole-changer is shifted from the extreme position i whi h it is shown, so that relay R becomes deem ergized and is placed on short circuit. The opening of relay R closes the pickup cir cuit for relay N, so that this latter rela again becomes energized. When switch 1 has reached its reverse position and has been locked, pole-changer P occupies its reverse extreme position, and, consequently. causes relay It to become energized in reverse direction. The reverse holding circuit for relay N is then closed at lever-operated contact R and at the polarized contact 3e'c 3 l of relay R. The operator then closes push button J, whereupon the indication magnet M becomes energized throu h the following circuit: from battery H, through wires 11 and 26, winding of magnet M, wire 26, push button, J, wire 27, contact 28 of relay 5,, wire 29, front point of contact 30 Of relay lit, wire 31, contact 32 of relay M, wire 33, contact 34--34E of relay R, wire 37, contact R on lever 1L, and wires 38, 36, 21 and 22 to battery H. Magnet M then raises the latch 10 and so permits lever L to complete its movement to the full reverse position. Push button J is then released, whereupon magnet M becomes deenergized and latch 10 falls and locks the lever L in the reverse position.

To move the switch A from the reverse to the normal position, magnet M is first energized by closing push button J, whereupon the lever L may be moved to its normal indication position where it is stopped by the engagement of dog 7 with the latch 10. This movement of the lever. returns the pole-changer F to the normal position, so that relay E becomes energized in the normal direction, and this causes the mechanism C to return the switch A to its normal position. Relay N is deenergized as soon as the lever passes the reverse indication posi-l tion, but it again becomes energized when indication relay R opens due to the move ment of switch A. After the switch has completed its movement, pole-changer P is returned to its normal position, so that relay It is again energized in normal direction, thus closing the normal holding circuit for relay N. The normal indication can then be taken by closing push button .l, whereupon the movement of lever L can be continued to the full normal position.

it will be noted that the segment 8 and the magnet M serve as a detector loclr and also as an indication lock for the lever L. It is obvious that the detector lock function of this indication device could be eliminated by beveling the outer ends of the dogs 7 and 8, and in such case the lever-operated contacts N and R could be changed so that they would be closed only in the normal indication and reverse indication positions of the lever. Magnet M would then be energized only when the indication is being taken.

I will now assume that the lever L is moved from normal to the reverse indication position and that the switch A fails to respond to this movement of the lever. Relay N is then de'energized, and, consequently, it is'impossible for the reverse indication to be received. Furthermore, the lever cannot be returned to its full normal position, because relay N is dee'nergized and can be energized only by the opening of relay R. On the other hand, I will assume that lever L is moved from the normal to the reverse indication position, and that the switch makes a partial movement and then becomes blocked by an obstruction, so that it cannot complete its movement to the reverse position. The reverse indication, obviously, cannot be obtained, but the lever may be returned to the normal indication position, and if the switch A responds by returning to the normal position, the normal indication will be received and the lever may be returned to its full normal position.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what ll claim is:

1. Railway traffic controlling apparatus comprising a railway switch having a normal and a reverse position, a lever for the control thereof, apolarized indication relay controlled by said switch and energized in normal or reverse direction according as the switch is in normal or reverse position and denergized while the switch is between said two positions, aneutral relay, a pick-up circuit for said neutral relay controlled by a back neutral contact of said indication relay, a holding circuit for said neutral relay controlled by a normal polarized contact of said indication relay and a normal-to-normalindication contact operated by said lever, a second holding circuit for said neutral relay controlled by a reverse polarized contact of said indication relay and-"a reverse to-ree verse -indication lever operated contact, means for locking said lever in normal indication and reverse indication positions, an indication magnet for releasing said locking means, a normal indication circuit for said magnet controlled by a front neutral contact and a normal polarized contact of said indication relay and by a normal-to-normalindication contact operated by said lever and by a front contact of said neutral relay, and a reverse indication circuit for said magnet controlled by a front neutral contact and a reverse polarized contact of said indication relay and by a reverse to-reverse-indication contact operated by said lever and by a front contact of said neutral relay.

2. Railway traflic controlling apparatus comprising a railway switch having a n0rmal and a reverse position, a lever for the control thereof, a polarized indication relay controlled by said switch and energized in normal or reverse direction according as the switch is in normal or reverse position and deenergized while the switch is between said two positions, a neutral relay, means for en ergizing said neutral relay when said polarized relay is denergized, means for holding said neutral relay energized when the indication relay is energized in normal direction and the lever is in normal-to-normalindication positions, and when the indication relay is energized in reverse direction and the lever is in reverse-to-reverse-indication positions, and locking means for said lever controlled by said two relays.

3. Railway traiiic controlling apparatus comprising a railway switch having a normal and a reverse position, a lever for the control thereof, a polarized indication relay controlled'by said switch and energized in normal or reverse direction according as the switch is in normal or reverse position and deenergized while the switch is between said two positions, a neutral relay, means for energizing said neutral relay when said polarized relay is deenergized, means for holding said neutral relay energized when the indication relay is energized in normal direction and the leveris in normal indication position, and when the indication relay is energized in reverse direction and the lever is in reverse indication position, and locking means for said lever controlled by said two relays.

4. Railway traffic controlling apparatus .comprising a' railway switch having a normal and a reverse position, a lever for the control thereof, a polarized indication relay controlled by said switch and energized in normal or reverse direction according as the switch is in normal or reverse position and denergized while the switch is between said two positions, a neutral relay, means for energizing said neutral relay when said polarized relay is denergized, means for holding said neutral relay energized when the inclication relay is energized in normal direction and the lever is in normal indication posi tion, and when the indication relay is eneriso gized in reverse direction and the lever is in reverse indication position, meansfor locking said lever in normal indication and reverse indication positions, a magnet for releasing said locking means, means for energizing said magnet when the neutral relay is energized and the indication relay is energized in normal direction, and other means for energizing said magnet when the neutral relay is energized and the indication relay is energized in reverse direction. I

5. Railway traflic controlling apparatus comprising a railway switch having a normal and a reverse position, a lever for the control thereof, a polarized indication relaycontrolled by said switch and energized in normal or reverse direction according as the switch is in normal or reverse position and denergized while the switch is between said two positions, a neutral relay, means for energizing said neutral relay when said polarized relay is deenergized, means for holding said neutral relay energized when the indi cation relay is energized in normal direction and the lever is in normal-to-normal-indication positions, and when the-indication relay is energized in reverse direction and the lever is in reverse-to-reverse-indication positions, means for locking said lever in normal, reverse, normal indicatien and reverse indication positions, a magnet for releasing said locking means, means for energizing said magnet when the neutral relay is energized and the indication relay is energized in normal direction and the lever is in nornial-to-normal indication positions, and other means for energizing said magnet when the neutral relay is energized and the indication relay is energized in reverse direction and the lever is in reverseto-reverseindication positions.

6. Railway traffic controlling apparatus comprising a railway switch having a normal and a reverse position, a lever for the control thereof, a polarized indication relay controlled by said switch and energized in normal or reverse direction according as the switch is in normal or reverse position and deenergized while the switch is between said two positions, a neutral relay, means for energizing said neutral relay when said polarized relay is deenergized, means for holding said neutral relay energized when the indication relay is energized in normal direction and the lever is in normal-to-normal-indication positions, and when the indication relay is. energized in reverse direction and, thelever is in reverse-to-reverse-indication positions, means for locking said lever in normal, reverse, normal indication, and reverse indication positions, a magnet for releasing said locking means, a track circuit extending through said switch and to the fouling points thereof; means for energizing said lock magnet when the neutral relay is energized, the indication relay is energized in normal direction, the lever is in normal-tonormal-indication positions and the track circuit is unoccupied; and other means for energizing said magnet when the neut 'al relay is energized, the indication relay is energized in reverse direction, the lever is in re verse-to-reverse-indication positions and the track circuit is unoccupied.

7. In combination, a section of railway track including a railway switch, a track circuit extending through the switch and to the fouling points thereof, a lever for the control of said switch, a locking device to prevent said lever being moved from the normal or reverse positions, and for preventing the lever being restored to the normal or reverse position but not to prevent it being moved between normal indication position and reverse indication positions, a magnet for releasing the said locking device when energized, means for energizing the said magnet to release the lever from the normal position or from the normal indication position provided the switch is in the normal position and the track circuit is unoccupied, and means for energizing the said magnet to release the lever. from the reverse position or the reverse indication position provided the switch is in reverse position and the track circuit is unoccupied.

8. In combination a section of railway track including a railway switch, a track circuit extending through the switch to the fouling points of same and including a track relay, a line relay arranged to repeat the position of the track relay, a polarized relay for controlling the position of the switch in such manner that when the polarized armature of the relay is in one position the switch will assume its normal position and when said armature is in the opposite position the switch will assume its reverse position, a lever, contacts controlled by the lever in such manner that when the lever is in normal-to-normal-indication positions said relay will be energized in the normal direction and that when the lever is in reverseto-reverse-indication positions the relay will be energized in the reverse direction and that when the lever is between the normal indication and reverse indication positions the relay will be denergized, a polarized indication relay controlled by said switch in such a manner that the relay will assume one position when the switch is normal and another position when the switch is reversed and that the relay will be placed on short circuit when the switch is between the normal and reverse positions, a neutral relay provided with a holding circuit closed when the lever is in normal-to-normal-indication positions and the indication relay is energized in the normal direction, and with a'second holding circuit closed when the lever is in reverse-to-reverse-indication positions and the indication relay in the reverse position, a pickup circuit for said neutral relay closed when the polarized indication relay is deenergized, a locking device to prevent the lever being moved to or from its normal and reverse positions but not to restrain its movement between the normal indication and reverse indication positions, an electromagnet for releasing the locking device, a

circuit controller arranged to keep the above magnet denergized except when it is desired to unlock the lever; a circuit for energizing the magnet when the circuit controller is closed, the track repeating relay is energized, the indication relay energized in normal direction, the neutral relay is energized and the lever in normal-to-normalindication positions; and another circuit for energizing the said magnet when the circuit controller is closed, the track repeating relay is energized, the indication relay is energized in the reverse direction, the neutral relay is energized, and the lever in reverseto-reverse-indication positions.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. LAY.

Witnesses A. HERMAN WEGNER, FRANKJ. BUCK. 

